Can punching and sealing device



Jan. 2, 1945. c. T. CHAMBERS CAN PUNCHING AND SEALING DEVICE Filed NOV. 10, 1941 dZare/nc ezahambe/rs Patented is... 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN PUNCHING AND SEALING DEVICE Clarence '1'. Chambers, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Application November 10, 1941, Serial No. 418,560 ((1220-51) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to can punching and sealing devices, and its general object is to provide a device primarily designed for cans of condensed milk or the like, that can be readily applied and removed with respect to a can, and is for initially punching a pouring opening in one side of the top thereof and a vent opening dia metrically opposite the pouring opening, the device to remain on the can with the punching means seated in the openings for sealing the same, until the contents of the can are consumed, and the punching means are hingedly mounted for disposal into and out of seated position.

A further object is to .provide a can punching and sealing device that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely efficient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, applied to a can.

Figure 3 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 2, and looking toward the left thereof.

Figure 4 is a view partly in section and illustrates the punching and sealing means in seated position in full lines, and in open position in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating the hinge connection between the base strip and the punching and sealing means.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the spring plate for holding the punching and sealing means in seated or raised positions.

Figure '7 is a view of a slightly modified form of penetrating or punching means.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the letter A indicates a can of the usual type in which condensed milk or the like is generally sold, and the device includes a base strip I of sheet metal or th like to rest upon the top wall of the can for disposal diametrically thereof, the strip and incidentally the device in its entirety being held on the can by a clamp in the form of a band, of a type to bring about easy application and removal of the device, but casual removal or dis,-

I The clamp in the form shown includes a pair of substantially semicircular members 2 and 3, each being made from a single strand of wire. One nd of each of the members is bent to provide an upwardly and inwardly directed right angle hook 4, and the vertical portions of the hooks extend through the base strip adjacent one end thereof, while the horizontal portions bear against the upper face of the strip, as best shown in Figure 2 which also shows that the opposite ends of the members 2 and 3 are bent upwardly and extend through the base strip adjacent its opposite end, as well as terminate in upright substantially oval shaped eyes 5 providing handles having a coil spring 6 mounted between the same and welded or otherwise fixed thereto, for urging the handles apart and consequently the semicircular portions of the members 2 and 3 toward each other to set up a clamping engagement with the can when mounted in surrounding relation thereon, as will be obvious upon inspection of Figures 2 and 3.

By that construction, it will be obvious that when the handles are squeezed together against the action of the spring 6, the device can be applied and removed with respect to the can, and when the handles are released, the semicircular portions will assume their normal clamping position.

The punching and sealing means each include a substantially rectangular flat lever like arm I made from sheet metal or the like, to provide a straight inner end and a rounded outer end. The straight inner ends of the arms have hinge barrels 8 formed thereon for registration with hinge barrels 9 formed on the opposite sides of the base strip centrally thereof, and mounted in companion barrels are pins I 0 for hingedly connecting the arms to the base strip for disposal upon the opposite sides thereof, as best shown in Figure 1.

A knob like handle H is provided for each arm 1 and is fixed thereto to rest upon the upper face thereof at its free end, by a shank 12 that is fixed within the knob and to the arm, the shank extending through the arm and the extending portion thereof is beveled as at l3 throu hout its length on its inner side to provide a penetrating point M. The shank It? may also be laterally beveled as shown in Figure 7, and the shank may be'of a length to extend entirely through the knob, with a head on the upper end thereof, and with the head c0untersunk within the knob. The arms are of a length so that when the device is applied to a can, the

penetrating points are positioned at the juncture ofthetopwaliofthecanwith thelnnerface of the circumferential wall thereof to provide the holes or openings therein at extreme diametrical- Lvoppositesidesoithe topwall,aswillbeapparent upon inspection of Figure 4.

In order to hold the punching and sealing means in seated position as shown in full lines inl'igure 4,orinraisedpositionasshownin dotted lines in that figure, I provide a substantially rectangular spring plate ll havin reduced ends ll mounted in slots II in the base strip, to bear against the center hinge barrels of the arms I, and the plate II is of a length, to assume an upwardly bowed position, as best shown in Filure 4, to perform its holding function.

From the above description and disclosure in the drawing. it is believed that the operation of in the openings, that they completely close the that such changes fall within the scope of the same andth retainthecontentsoitheean free from ts, dust and other foreign-matter. whilethearmsretainthetopwallofthecan about the openings free from foreign matter, and therefore in a clean and sanitary condition.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

' It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided appended claim.

- WhatIclaim is:

A can punching and sealing device, comprising an elongated flat base adapted to be clamped to the upper end of a can, arms hingedly connected to the base for disposal at right ang5 raised or lowered positions.

T. CHAMBERS. 

